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Best of Newt’s campaign

It’s a risky move for an active presidential campaign to give outsiders access to his best supporters and possibly donors who could be easily turned off — just as he says he’s trying to mount a comeback. Diminishing his best asset looks more like a sign of surrender, rather than a genuine effort to challenge Mitt Romney for the GOP nomination.

Campaign insiders attribute the problems partly to Gingrich and his wife Callista’s, asserting that the couple was unwilling to downgrade from private jets and security details even as the campaign floundered. Insiders say Callista Gingrich required an entourage of at least two staffers – including one who dressed in an elephant costume to promote her children’s book – and a contracted security guard who followed her even on non-campaign trips.

The scramble to retire debt comes as Newt Gingrich is loaning his campaign thousands of dollars to keep him out on the trail, and he’s eying an uncertain political and financial future, since “Newt,Inc.” – the network of companies and non-profits that made his fortune – has crumbled.

“They overspent to keep up the appearances of being a top-tier candidate,” asserted Greg Fournier, a Central Florida consultant who chaired Gingrich’s effort in Daytona Beach’s Volusia County. “If you have a campaign bus and you’re flying in on a chartered jet, but you do not have the money for that, you end up sacrificing your ground game,” he said.

R.C. Hammond, a spokesman for the Gingrich campaign, rejected suggestions that the campaign had misspent on overhead, asserting “we’ve done more with less, if you look at total spending, compared to the other candidates.” And he brushed off a question about whether renting the list diluted its value or signaled an end to the campaign.

“No, it demonstrates the campaign is pursuing new sources of revenue,” he said. Gingrich has loaned the campaign “thousands, primarily toward travel and lodging expenses,” Hammond said, but he added “the campaign intends to reimburse” the loans.

And, while the campaign staff has had ongoing discussions about “rebuilding the brand,” his allies expressed confidence that neither the list rental nor the debt would hurt his ability to resuscitate Newt, Inc. after the campaign.

“His ability to move forward after this, if he is not the nominee, is certainly enhanced, because right now he is even more of a national brand than he was before,” said campaign chairman Bob Walker, a former Pennsylvania congressman. “We’re doing what we can to pay off the debt and we feel confident that we will be able, in the course of the campaign, to get much of that debt paid off.”

But the campaign’s debt has nearly tripled since its last financial report, which covered through the end of February, and listed $1.6 million in debt.

Readers' Comments (86)

The proverbial "fat lady" would sing here, but her voice is already worn out from working the Santorum campaign. Of course, even she doesn't see the point of singing for Ron Paul.

And I have bad news for Newt/Santorum/conservatives in general: Romney is going to pivot to the middle for the general election. Unless they are facing a very weak opponent who is a poor campaigner, candidates who don't pivot LOSE. I'll grant you, Obama is not a particularly strong opponent in terms of his record, but he is an excellent campaigner. Romney is smart enough to realize this, and therefore, he is going to pivot.

Newt has done nothing his entire life except teach (and you know the old saw about that!), politic, bellow his opinions, and eternally tell everyone else how screwed up they are. Methinks he should just look in the mirror.

How would you feel if someone SOLD the privy information you gave in their support to a third party? Newt is, was, and always has been a LOSER. It is written all over his spoiled brat jowls.

lol..........Mitt Romney is a "center-right" candidate..........he doesn't have to move anywhere.

And I expect Mitt to cast a huge wide net over the electorate on Tuesday night November 6th, 2012 where he will scoop up concerned American voters from Reagan Democratst to ultra conservatives.

Mitt Romney is going to be a very unique POTUS............and its time that broken Washington DC was run like a business, a profitable business not this one that runs up $$ Trillion plus deficits year after year.

Why does he stay in the race? It's all about free food. He gets to eat on contributors' dime. All his (and his wife's) other expenses as well. He should hang a sign around his neck - 'family man, will give speech for food'.

Perceptions, do you get paid by the hour? The word ? The number of articles commented on ? Does it count if you write unrelated drivel on an article ? Do you get docked pay for personal attacks (except the President of course) ? Does your mom know what you do for a living ? Does she brag about it at the bridge club ? Did it take long to learn all of the clever copy and paste tricks plus extra color ? Do you get more money for pretty pictures ? Are you sitting next to bluelight in a dingy cubicle in Florida or Georgia ? Really, tell us, How many names do you post under ? Inquiring minds want to know ;)

Newt would be far ahead regarding his future in the Republican Party if he would bow out now and support Gov. Romney. Rick Santorum has effectively ended his career with all of his whining and vicious attacks on a candidate, Romney, that he had no chance of overtaking. The time for presenting different ideas from Romney's was over a while back.

Anyone that writes a check to Newt is a Mark. This guy is and has always been a political hustler, living off the fat of the political land. Charter flights and security details to make themselves look and feel important are disgraceful. Particularly when it's done with other peoples money.

Who was it that balanced the budget during the Clinton administration again? Certainly not someone with this mindset.

How presidential, selling out your own top supporters before you've even been elected! Most politicians wait till they're elected before they start selling out their own supporters by legislating/governing against their supporters interests.

Newt is a multi millionair...but his view is that others should pay the bills that HE created...so he is selling the personal information of those who contrbuted to his campaign rather than pulling out his own check book.

Newt I have another idea how you can pay the bills...why not sell or hock some of the "little lady's Tiffany's bling"...that should cover at least half of what YOU owe.

Newt...for once in your life be a MAN...take some personal responsibility for YOUR own actions and decisions...you decided to run..you decided on the campaign plan...YOU FAILED...YOU SHOULD PAY UP...

Newt needs to return to the bargaining table and acknowledge that his actions were unbecoming for a Republican Candidate for the Presidency. Gingrich's attacks against the free enterprise system is the reason his candidacy has degenerated into failure. One the greatest political minds of our generation tried to jump the ideological divide to win personal glory. This election is too important and means more than the ambitions of one man. Newt turn your fire back to the ideas and plans of Big Government! Bigger Government will bankrupt our nation and lead to a disaster for future generations. Join Mitt Romney and together we will get there step by step. Believe in America - GenZ4Romney